Issue #24 | April 2026

In This Issue...

• 495 Express Lanes Northern Extension Opened in November 2025; Construction On Track for Completion This Summer
• Final Work on New Georgetown Pike Bridge and Approaches
• Road Work on Balls Hill Road Near Cooper Middle School
• Construction Underway on New Scott’s Run Nature Preserve Annex Parking Lot
• Final Touches Happening on New Shared-Use Bicycle and Pedestrian Trail
• George Washington Memorial Parkway Beltway Bridges and Ramps
• Corridor Revegetation
• Contact Information

495 Express Lanes Northern Extension Opened in November 2025;

Construction On Track for Completion This Summer

The two-and-a-half-mile northern extension of the 495 Express Lanes opened on November 23, 2025 – ahead of schedule and before the holiday travel period. Now in its fifth month of operation, the extended express lanes already are improving mobility for Capital Beltway users by providing additional capacity between the Dulles Corridor and George Washington Memorial Parkway interchanges, as well as new connections to major commuter routes, airports and businesses. The new express lanes extension represents the most significant upgrade to I-495 in Virginia since the original 495 Express Lanes opened in 2012. 

The new 2.5-mile northern extension of the 495 Express Lanes and adjacent general-purpose lanes (November 2025). Photos courtesy of Shirley Contracting Company, LLC.

The new 495 Express Lanes Extension integrates seamlessly with the existing 14-mile 495 Express Lanes and the larger 97-mile express lanes network in Northern Virginia. The new extension functions under the same rules of the road as the other express lanes facilities operated by Transurban on I-495, I-395 and I-95.

Since opening the extension, the 495 NEXT project team has focused on completing other project elements, including:

• New Georgetown Pike bridge, and approaches and ramps
• Rehabilitation of George Washington Memorial Parkway overpasses
• Shared-use bicycle and pedestrian trail
• Scott’s Run Nature Preserve Annex Parking
• Revegetation
• Other finishing details

Final project construction is expected to be completed by mid-2026.

Remaining 495 NEXT project work includes activities at the George Washington Memorial Parkway overpasses, Georgetown Pike bridge interchange, and along northbound and southbound I-495 for shared-use trail and revegetation work.

Final Work on New Georgetown Pike Bridge and Approaches

At the Georgetown Pike and Balls Hill Road intersection, work is progressing on the median separating east and westbound traffic (April 2026).

The new southern portion of the Georgetown Pike bridge (shown on the left) opened to traffic earlier this month, making room for median work in the center of the bridge (April 2026).

Construction of the new Georgetown Pike bridge over I-495 has continued since opening the express lanes extension, with crews working to build medians, curbs and sidewalks, complete paving, install lane markings, and complete finishing details such as installing permanent traffic and pedestrian crossing signals and signs.

In early April, the new southern portion of the Georgetown Pike bridge over I-495 opened, with all eastbound travel lanes shifted onto this new section. Final work on the new bridge and roadway approaches is underway, with crews building medians, new sidewalks and the 495 Bicycle and Pedestrian Shared-Use Trail that crosses the bridge. Crews will also be installing final pavement and lane markings, traffic and pedestrian crossing signals, and roadway signs. Drivers should continue to use caution while this final work is underway, as day and nighttime lane closures on the bridge and roadway approaches will occur.

The new bridge and roadway approaches are expected to be fully complete by late spring 2026. New features that will benefit travelers include six total travel lanes (three in each direction), improved traffic movements, and access and connections for bicyclists and pedestrians.

Road Work on Balls Hill Road Near Cooper Middle School

In addition to the bridge-finishing work on Georgetown Pike, crews are busy milling and paving segments of Balls Hill Road between the entrance to Cooper Middle School and Live Oak Drive. This work requires periodic flagging operations, with crews directing alternating single lanes of traffic.

Work in this area is expected to finish by late May 2026, followed by the demobilization of project construction activities and equipment.

Construction Underway on New Scott’s Run Nature Preserve Annex Parking Lot

A new 25-spot Scott’s Run Nature Preserve Annex Parking lot is being constructed at the southeast corner of the I-495 and Georgetown Pike interchange. Work on this new amenity began in late February 2026, with completion anticipated this summer. The future parking facility will provide parking and trail connections to Scott’s Run Nature Preserve and connect to the new 495 Shared-Use Bicycle and Pedestrian Trail. Following 495 NEXT project completion, the Fairfax County Park Authority will own and maintain this parking area.

In addition to providing new parking spaces and connections to local trails, the lot will feature resources for bicyclists, including bike racks, an air pump and repair station, and a covered and open-air picnic area with tables and seating. The new parking lot will be ADA accessible.

Benefiting users of the bike-pedestrian trail and visitors to Scott’s Run Nature Preserve, the new 25-spot parking area is planned to be completed in summer.

Final Touches Happening on New Shared-Use Bicycle and Pedestrian Trail

Project improvements include a shared-use bicycle and pedestrian trail that runs parallel to I-495 between Lewinsville Road and Live Oak Drive. This trail, which is expected to open in the summer, will provide new bicycle and pedestrian facilities and connections to Scott’s Run Nature Preserve and Fairfax County Park Authority’s trail system. Additionally, pedestrian access has been added to the Lewinsville Road, Old Dominion Drive, Georgetown Pike and Live Oak Drive bridges over I-495.

While much of the shared-use trail has been completed, it is not yet open for public use for safety reasons. Remaining trail work includes installing handrails and fencing. Additionally, the trail will be used by trucks and other equipment involved in the 495 NEXT project’s revegetation effort, and therefore unsuitable for public use.

George Washington Memorial Parkway Beltway Bridges and Ramps

One of the most important elements of the 495 NEXT project is repairing and improving the George Washington Memorial Parkway (GWMP) interchange bridges over I-495. In service since this segment of the Capital Beltway opened in 1962, 495 NEXT project improvements include repairs to steel girders, rehabilitation of bridge decks including the application of a surface overlay, and painting.

In addition to upgrading the bridges, crews will complete work on the ramps from GWMP to southbound I-495, as well as from south and northbound I-495 to GWMP.

Remaining GWMP work is expected to extend into late spring, requiring periodic overnight ramp closures and detours.

Corridor Revegetation

Revegetation, which in most cases can only be performed after construction is completed, has begun in some areas throughout the project corridor. Enhanced seed mixes are currently being applied at focused locations.

View the project's revegetation plan here. Planting locations were primarily determined based on roadway and utility proximity, environmental limitations, and safety conditions. Plant selection focused on native and habitat-appropriate species and the final revegetation design plan reflects public input.

The revegetation plan for Old Dominion Drive includes a variety of deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs.

Questions?

Email: 495NorthernExtension@vdot.virginia.gov

Call: Construction Inquiry Line, 703-592-6430

Virginia Department of Transportation, Michelle Holland, 703-586-0487

Transurban, Mike McGurk, 571-421-5364

Lane Construction, John Undeland, 703-785-3461